The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-01

The PeriIous Fcat Performed by n
Mexican Scnoritn.


expert of the professional fighters OF
Mexico took Leading part, writes a
City of Mexico correspondent OF The
indianapolis Journal. This performer
was young woman, whose equal has
probably never appeard in the Plaza
dc Toros." In this, her farewell exh-
bition, Senorita Hernandez advertised
for the widest and fiercest bulls the
country could produce. and agreed to
fight them while wearing stills. The
novelty of young girl engaging in a
bull-fght handicapped By having stills
fastened to her feet was sufficient to
attract vast crowd, and OH the day
fixed for the event, fnlly five thousand
persons found places to sit or stand in
the large ampitheatre. The animals
provided for the occasion were small
active, and wholly untamed, each hay
ing his horns trmed and polished, un-
til the points were rs bright and almost
rs sharp us needles. Never was more
expert work done in this cruel sport
than was cooly performed by the Mex
lean girl that day. As the bull, mad
with rage, would make his furious
charge she would stand until he had
approached W thin distance of about
three feet, when. suddenly sprnging to
one side, she would, rs tee animal
rushed furiously by, with one hand slap
him in the face with the red cloak with
which his anger had first been aroused,
while with the other hand she dexter
ously thrust into his neck Il gaudy barb
ed ''banderilla, causing him to roar
with pain and rage. Charge after
charge was made by the maddened
brute, only to be cludel by the active
girl, while tho bull met the same treat
nient as before. The little senorita
played with him, plagued him, and tor
tured him AZ n cat would mouse. un-
til the animal, bleeding and sore and
worn out with fatigue and pain, gave
up the contest and would fight no
more. He had met his conquerer, and
was taken from the ring.
In the next contest the fair Castilian
was under an advertised obligation,
while yet wearing the stills, to kill the
bull with sword scarcely more than
two feet in length. This was to be
done by the toreadora at the time the
animal was making the charge, the
fatal thrust TO be gwen while she was
directly in front of and fairly facing
the bull.
The animal selected for this contest
was beautiful specimen of his race.
Black rs coal, agile rs cat, savage
and wild, he was no sooner within the
arena than he was ready for the battle
After he had been permitted to make
charge or two to warm him to his
work, the governor. who presided on
the occasion, gave a signal and the
bugle sounded the death call" The
senorta, with stills of one foot in
height securely fastened to her limbs,
received the short sword, saluted the
governor. and, turning to her enemy,
gave shout of defiance and waved her
scarlet cloak to rouse his anger. AT
this time the distance separating the
the antagonists was almost two hu1-
bred feet. Toro, quivering with OK
element and paving the earth in his
rage, waited for no second invitation.
With flashing eyes and head lowered to
the ground, he started ut full speed for
the object OF MS hate. The brave girl
waited until the beast was within TWEEN
ty feet, when, bracing herself firmly.
she held her sword ut shoulder height,
ready for his coming. When within
about four feet she threw her body sud
denly forward, gave quick thrust with
her sword, and, without waiting to see
the effect of the blow, swung quickly
around aud again saluted the governor.
In the twinkling of an eye she turned
TO face the bull, and rs she did so he
dropped dead, so close to her that,
without moving from her position, she
placed one foot upon the neck of her
now helpless enemy.
The sword. directed by the strong
arm of the self-possessed girl, had sew
cred the spinal cord, and death was
instantaneous and probably painless.
1t was perilous feat, skllfully and
fearlessly performed, and the slightest
nervousness on the part Of the per-
f...,,o,. ,,,o,ld ,,roh.hlv hova rosulto1